Landslides feared in MisOr due to ‘Basyang’

WITH the saturation of soil due to the relentless rain brought recently by Tropical Depression Agaton, added with the moderate rainfall caused by Tropical Storm Basyang, potential landslides may be experienced in some parts of Misamis Oriental, the province’s disaster body said Friday.

Andrew Bascon, rescue head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said there are villages in Gingoog City that have landslide threats.

“The reports from the residents about deep ‘tension cracks’ on the soil were verified by the PDRRMO,” said Bascon.

Advertisement

Bascon added that the “tension cracks” were found in the following villages: Talisay, Punong, Tinulongan and Kamanikan.

“The crack in an area in Talisay extended to a few hectares,” Bascon said.

He furthered that the cracks should not be disregarded since some of it are 10-inch deep that could trigger a landslide.

Bascon said these cracks were caused by the relentless rain during Agaton and the ceaseless rainfall caused by Basyang in Gingoog Friday.

“The soil in Gingoog City is already saturated,” said Bascon referring to the possible cause of the cracks.

Bascon added the rain in Gingoog started Thursday morning and ceased only a few hours only to get heavier Friday afternoon.

Code yellow in Oro

Meanwhile, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) declared a ‘code yellow’ in the city Friday.

Weather specialist of the CDRRMO, Vergel Lago, told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro that after the office launched a meeting with the village chiefs, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and representatives from the Cagayan de Oro City Police (Cocpo), the office declared the “code yellow” to aware the residents of the storm and the threats it comes with.

He said based on the protocol prompted by code yellow, the village chiefs’ primary task is to identify the evacuation centers in their respective villages.

Lago furthered that the village chiefs were also oriented on what to do in times of weather disturbances and tropical storms that may cause flooding among others.

He said the CDRRMC is constantly monitoring the situation.

Bascon said the PDRRMC augmented some of its personnel in Gingoog City.

“We have an incident command post in Gingoog that brought provisions and rescue teams,” said Bascon adding that at press time they are consolidating their rescuers.

Bascon said there are 20 rescue volunteers in Gingoog assigned in the command center while the others are on-call and mobile.

He said the mobile teams are assisting the residents in the landslide prone areas, and in case a preemptive evacuation is necessary.

“Hopefully, Basyang would just pass by without causing damage,” said Bascon.

Bascon added the Provincial Social Welfare and Development (PSWD) has been packing relief goods as the need arises.

Ready and alert

The Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) in Camp Evangelista has assured the public that it has readied its equipment in preparation for the arrival of tropical storm Basyang today.

4ID spokesperson Christian Uy said they are ready for their disaster relief and rehabilitation effort in emergency situations particularly in the devastation that natural calamities bring.

Uy said the military has alerted its troops Friday afternoon to respond to emergencies to be likely brought by the storm.

He said the disaster relief and rehabilitation unit has been created to act as a quick response team when natural disasters occur.

“Our rescue team is always ready,” Uy said.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on February 01, 2014.

DISCLAIMER: Sun.Star website welcomes friendly debate, but comments posted on this site do not necessary reflect the views of the Sun.Star management and its affiliates. Sun.Star reserves the right to delete, reproduce or modify comments posted here without notice. Posts that are inappropriate will automatically be deleted.

Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!